Last week’s At Your Place event at the club training ground enabled Watford legend Luther Blissett to spend time talking to new head coach Valerien Ismael – and the club’s all-time greatest player said he could see why owner Gino Pozzo had hired him.

After being invited to the supporter-organised evening where fans met Pozzo in person for the first time earlier in the summer, Blissett was again on the guest list last week when chairman Scott Duxbury, captain Daniel Bachmann, technical director Ben Manga, sporting director Cristiano Giaretta and Ismael fielded questions from the floor.

“Meeting the head coach: that was the first time that has happened in as long as I can remember,” admitted Blissett.

“Straight away I could see how his attitude fitted with the philosophy Gino wanted. An attitude that has to run through everything, to create that energy and togetherness and he is definitely driving that change of thinking amongst the players.

“They trained longer in pre-season, so that they could cover for each other. Pick up an injury: well you’ll recover quicker and we have someone to step in while you do.”

It was also an opportunity for Blissett to get to know Manga and Giaretta better.

“I had come away from the previous fan meeting with more optimism than for a while. Not because of the event itself, but because there was a palpable new energy, a new attitude when I walked into the training ground,” said the former England striker.

“This time I was actually able to be officially introduced to Cristiano and Ben. Having sat through pre-match and games with them, yet not a word exchanged, this time I met the men not the media perception of them. What a pleasure that was.

“There are your professional skills and then there is the way you conduct yourself and treat others, and those gents were a pleasure to be able to get to know.”

At the event with Pozzo, there was a clear message from the supporters attending that they wanted more and better communication from and with the club.

“There was the need for the club to drive its fan relationship better and part of that was my discussion with Scott about restarting the At Your Place events, but doing them differently from time to time,” he said.

“By the club, for the fans, is what I believe it should be.”

As well as many positives, Blissett was also presented with some negative updates.

“I sat in on a discussion about the behaviour of our fans, notably at away games, after several incidents last season,” he conceded.

“I’m disappointed to see us lose our reputation for being fantastic fans away from home.

“It gave me a chance to look back on how we approached away travel back in the day, more on coaches, more unity within fans. It was all part of the experience.

“No separate groups, just Hornets - travelling Hornets together.  To hear our reputation is currently being eroded by a group of so-called supporters was sad indeed.”

It was a first opportunity for Blissett to talk to Bachmann since he had been made club captain.

“Congratulations were in order,” said Blissett, adding: “I have had the chance to talk to Dan a few times before and like Tom Cleverley he has that captain spirit. Quiet authority and fairness off the pitch.   

“We had a good talk about the new set-up and how important the pre-season early start had been in helping to drill themselves into a real unit of players.

“Understanding each other’s roles, working together. Just like we did, I told him. That unity is critical to success.

“During the evening Ismael explained to the room how that is similar to basketball where players have to step up and adapt quickly.

“Even the Lionesses have spoken about this when Lauren James was banned - they are coached to step into roles and continue. Dan and I talked about the awareness of pattern of play, something Graham Taylor was very hot on. 

“Dan commented on how they are learning to work with each other instinctively, and you can see on the pitch that is beginning to happen. Being intuitive allows the up-tempo play that Gino and the Head Coach both want us to produce.”

The Watford keeper also discussed the reaction to him being made captain with Blissett.

“It was back to earth with a bump when I asked Dan about social media, where he recently suffered disgraceful abuse from our own fans. I had talked in the Watford Observer about this shabby behaviour and Dan thanked me for speaking out.

“As he said ‘his family have to read the things, it’s not nice’. Nor do I believe it is fair.

“That brings to mind something which has been much commented on since Saturday: the position of our keeper and his distribution.  

“Everyone has been focussed on Dan and some of the feedback has been extremely negative. However what has been missed is the ‘why’.

“It is the way the manager wants him to play, virtually as a third centre half when the ball is in an advanced position on the pitch: not unusual but exaggerated which will evolve over time.

“However, distribution. Yes there was a rush to clear the ball, but this requires a look at the positioning of the two centre backs. Of the two it was Wes Hoedt who put the most pressure on Dan with close-range back passing, catching him unawares at one point and we could have conceded from that. 

“Ryan Porteous made a couple of unwarranted back passes as well.

“They’re things which they need to take responsibility for, and which contributed to the added pressure on Dan in a new style of play.” 

Watford Observer: Daniel Bachmann is playing the way his head coach wants him to play says Luther Blissett.Daniel Bachmann is playing the way his head coach wants him to play says Luther Blissett. (Image: PA)

Going back to At Your Place, Blissett revealed that his conversation with Giaretta yielded a similar response to the one fans were given when asked about a new striker.

“The panel gave a clear outline on who they were looking for,” said Blissett.

“I had asked Giaretta about the No.9 shirt and he talked through this and said they wanted someone of a specific type. They had to fit the team now. They have a specific profile in mind and won’t rush to take an alternative.

“One of the most reassuring things was hearing that they recruited on mentality as much as statistics.”

Blissett also talked to Ismael about the hunt for a new No.9.

“He said to me they had to be the right fit,” said Watford’s all-time record goalscorer.

“A player who can hold the ball up. Someone to use as a get out when under pressure, a real goalscorer to cause the opposition to worry.”

The founder of the Former Players Club came through the ranks at Vicarage Road, and so was pleased to hear good things said about homegrown players.

“There was positivity about young players, the improvement in the Academy and those coming through,” he said.

After the earlier private chat with Bachmann about social media abuse, the subject was raised by fans.

“Dan replied to a fan question about social media abuse repeating what we had discussed earlier and gave his view that young players should avoid the toxicity,” said Blissett.

“But, as he pointed out, young players won’t heed that advice as they have yet to reach the visibility when it has a huge negative impact on their lives. They are simply unaware of what is to come.

“But the club has now got an expert in, coaching them on how to manage their social media interaction.

“I didn’t agree with one thing though: the club apparently go back and delete old, possibly foolish stuff players may have posted previously. It’s my belief you own your mistakes and learn from them, not erase them.

“Education means making sure the attitude has changed, not just hiding the old social media comments.”

As a long-time custodian of the club’s No.8 shirt, Blissett said he was happy to learn about the impact the current incumbent has had.

“I heard how Jake Livermore was doing my number proud already, by simply providing a voice in the dressing room that backed up Dan and expected respect,” he said.

“When the squad went to Stevenage it was the same player selection, Ismael wants them to maximise their time together and so no changes were being made after a win. Anyone who moaned that they should play was apparently reminded by Jake about earning a shirt!”

As well as Watford-centric topics, Blissett was also abole to talk to the key club officials about wider football matters.

“We talked about ‘added time’. It was good to hear the head coach say that they would adapt when needed,” he said.

“It’s what we have always done, no point in moaning about a few minutes.”

A true advocate of the way of working and behaving that the late Taylor instilled at Vicarage Road more than 45 years ago, Blissett expressed delight at words spoken by Duxbury about the culture of the club.

“It was great to hear Scott respond to a question about promoting our history and recognition for the contributions we have made to create a very special club with a unique record,” he beamed.

“As Graham Taylor said, we all have a part to play. I have done my bit and it is good to be recognised for it by those who come and sit on the bench today - I felt there has been a disconnect.

“To hear Scott say that this was going to improve made my evening frankly, along with the sense that everyone there had an air of positivity.”

“Above all, I could feel a new-found respect.”

One comment from the club chairman at last week’s event was that Blissett will be playing “a bigger part” in the club in future.

The news that Watford’s favourite son could soon be playing a key role would doubtless be welcomed by fans who have long campaigned for Blissett to have visible involvement at the club he served with such distinction.

At this stage neither the club or Blissett have said anything further, though the Watford Observer understands that just being invited to attend the last two fan events at London Colney was an intentionally visible indication that the relationship with the board has progressed significantly in recent months.

It’s anticipated that an announcement and more detail on Blissett’s role is to be released soon.

• Details of the Former Players Club can be at https://formerplayersclub.com/